In Medias Res

Last night, I was reading How I Write by Janet Evanovich, Alex Evanovich (not officially credited on the cover), and Ina Yalof. In a section on beginnings, there was a question on the meaning of in medias res, which basically means “in the middle of things,” which is where — ideally, perhaps — you’d start your book.

So I got to thinking. (Dangerous activity at 11:30 at night, let me tell ya!)

WHAT IF Devon went straight from his father’s funeral pyre to his own wedding without knowing anything about it beforehand? The way it stands right now, after the funeral, his uncle tells him it was decided before his father died, the girl is already there (daughter of an enemy), and he has two weeks to get used to the idea.

The change in when the wedding is could be interesting. And it would be a bang-up way to increase the tension between the two of them.

It wouldn’t change what I already have done too terribly much other than I’d need to go and weave in more tension in the other chapters since the wedding is already in chapter 1.

Hm. I think I’ve already made up my mind on what I’m going to do, but I’m going to run it by someone else first.

Filed under: writing

Monday Poetry Train

I’m quite possibly cheating today.  This is an old one, but I’ve been wanting to do some more work on it.  Maybe with bringing it out into the light, I can get some more perspective on it.

AT THE LOUVRE

The Mona Lisa
smiled at me
from behind
her protective glass.
Crowds press in,
forcing me to leave.
Cries of disappointment
follow my wake:
“But it’s so small!
Is it a fake?”

Filed under: poetry train, writing

New Feature

On the right, under the “Pages” box, there is a new box:  “What I’m Reading.”

Right now, I’m reading How I Write by Janet Evanovic with Alex Evanovich (not on the cover) and Ina Yalof.  There are links to take a closer look at the book for both BN.com and Amazon.com.  The links will open in a new window.

I will change it when I finish or start a new book.  Don’t be surprised if you ever happen to see more than one book at a time there.

Filed under: not writing

Inspiration

I’m odd, I know that.  I have to have feedback on what I’m currently working on, if it’s a large project, to keep motivated to work on it.

Today I took part of chapter 1 of “Devon’s Wish” to a writers’ group meeting for critique/feedback.

I got it. 

I need to know I’m on the right track.  I need to know there might be some interest in what I’m doing.  I don’t like working in a void.

True, I’m not, but often it feels that way.  It feels like I’m wasting my time writing when I could be doing something “more worthwhile.”

(And, yes, I have been told that on more than one occasion.  By my sister, no less.)

Getting feedback inspires me to keep going because I know then that there are people out there who might actually buy what I have written, providing it gets published (and providing I get the courage up to send it out in the first place).

I feel like I’m almost done with chapter 8.  I didn’t write much at all this past week because of the feeling like I’m writing in a void.

Now the problem is tomorrow I have to go to a birthday party when I would rather work on Devon’s story since I have my motivation/inspiration back.  A few hours away shouldn’t hurt it too much, though.

Filed under: writing

About the Monday Poetry Train

I know I promised on Monday that I would tell you about the poetry train “later.”  I just didn’t realize “later” would be Friday.

I first heard of the Monday Poetry Train from The Write Snark.  She links it to Rhian’s Poetry Train.  Regardless of how/where it started, I’ve been following along and doing it myself for a while even though I didn’t post my efforts until this week.

Filed under: poetry train, writing

Two Posts

…on Evolution.

One is from yesterday that I forgot to tell you about.

Check this one carefully. I was tagged to do a meme and some of you have been tagged as well.

Filed under: not writing

8 Things

So a couple days ago, one of my friends tagged me to post eight things about myself.  I didn’t forget, I just didn’t know what the heck to put on here.  I still don’t for that matter.

Some of these may be obvious from other posts here.  Without further ado, here we go.

1. I’m a creativity coach wannabe.  The next introductory course starts in November and I will be taking it then.
2. I don’t/can’t drive.  I’m legally blind.  Believe me, you don’t want me behind the wheel of a car.  If I ever am, a miracle has happened or something is very, very, wrong.
3. I live with my parents.  They moved in with me about six years ago saying they were looking for a new house.  They’re still here.
4. I love to cook but I hate my kitchen.  It’s too small to really do much.  My next kitchen will be big with a lot of counter space (and hopefully a center island, but that’d just be icing on the cake).
5. I’ve finished the first draft of a historical romance set in Ireland near the beginning of the Middle Ages.  It’s still waiting for me to start revising it.
6. I’ve started another one that takes place about 100 years later, following the same family.
7. I’m hopelessly unorganized but I’m really trying to change that.
8. I’ve been commssioned to make a necklace for an acquaintance whose daughter is getting married in November.

Now I’m supposed to tag eight more people.  So… 

Dorothy
Sandy
Laura
April
Melinda
Carys
Jessica
Jeni

Filed under: writing

Monday Poetry Train

I’ll post something about the poetry train and how I came across it later.  In the meantime, here’s a short one (currently untitled):

Bare limbs reaching out,
pleading for respite from fire.
Blackened trunks remain.

Filed under: poetry train

Surprises Can Be Good

Pointing you to Evolution again.

Filed under: writing , creative, creativity

A Surprise

Something I would like to do, along the evolutionary path, is to live in a more creativity-oriented community.

Yes, they do exist.  Some that come to mind immediately are Idyllwild, Califonia; Sedona, Arizona; and Eureka Springs, Arkansas.

I have no doubt there are more.  These are just the ones that I have personally been to.  The one that has caught my spirit, though, is Eureka Springs. 

For the past couple years, I’ve wished I could move there.  I still wish it.  People around me, though, have offered reason after reason of why I can’t or shouldn’t.

I say baloney to them all!

Yesterday, my Mom and I were floating/swimming at Lake Wayne Wallace at Robbers’ Cave State Park in Wilburton, OK.  Out of the blue, she started listing things I could do if I didn’t want to get a full-time 9-to-5 job to make a living there.

I was surprised.  “So you’re encouraging me to move there?”

She shrugged and said, “You might as well.  At least you can say you tried it if you have to move back.”  A little later, she added, “Plus, there’s places you can sell your jewelry and it’d probably be a good place for you.”

My thought is, yeah, I could certainly sell jewelry there.  I could also put more into writing.  I might have to do medical transcription (blech!) for a while, too, but I don’t think that would be a constant thing.  Just a bit of a stop-gap thing.

I wonder if I convinced her or her trips through there to take Granny to see her brother in Missouri and back did it for me?  Either way, I’ll take it!

Filed under: writing , creativity